Y’all, I went back to Magnolia Market…again! I can’t remember if this is my fourth or fifth time, but each time I discover something new.

I had family in town this past weekend and took advantage of the opportunity to play host and tourist. The final day of their vacation, we road tripped to Waco to visit the notorious Magnolia Market Silos.

Joanna changes the themes and displays according to season. This was the first thing you saw upon entering the shop!

Joanna’s newly released cookbook was on display! (along with her adorable yet pricey mugs)

I love how Chip and Joanna incorporate their favorite design trends throughout the marketplace. Open shelving, subway tile, vent hoods oh my!

Chip has his own designated section of the store. It features cookbooks (grilling and barbecue), Yeti tumblers, tools, apparel, and more. Oh, and I can’t forget Chip’s book. I gave this book to Jamie for Christmas; he absolutely loved it!

This wall of clocks is so quirky and fun! I have a similar wall clock in our dining room.

I am loving the black shiplap and accents. The faux flowers were unbelievable, literally! We overheard a woman explaining to her husband that the flowers were in fact NOT real. He was in disbelief.

The garden was fun to explore. I am envious of their array of veggies. And of course, my favorite…succulents! Succulents and air plants galore!

My cousin, Nicole, was very (V) excited to sample Joanna’s cupcakes.

We tried Lemon Lavender, Strawberries and Cream, and Carrot Cake. The Lemon Lavender was a perfect blend of subtle flavors. The cupcakes are amazing but rich; we could barely finish two!

The Gaines’ have truly thought out every detail! Even down to the wax paper cupcake “foils”. Rustic and practical!

I love love love the classic black on white.

Before we left, we took some time to hang out on the swings!

I really enjoy having visitors in town, especially family! I cannot wait until we can host everyone at our home. We are preparing our house to be able to sleep more guests. Our current DIY project is a Murphy Bed! A post on that to come!

Are you looking for an inexpensive way to update your bathroom? Try starting with the lighting! When our bathroom vanity light fixture broke, it was a blessing in disguise! I hated those old traditional vanity lights but I had forgotten all about them until the day the lamp shade fell off and completely shattered. So, it was finally time to start looking for replacement vanity lighting. Yay!

We looked in Home Depot, Lowes, and lots of online retailers. I couldn’t find anything I absolutely loved and I could definitely not justify spending over $100 on one bathroom light fixture (we needed two). I am incredibly lucky that boy Jamie is both handy and creative! I knew I could get him excited about a DIY project if it involved the word *INDUSTRIAL*. So that’s when we started brainstorming. We knew we were looking to incorporate industrial lighting in our master bathroom. Our goal was to recreate something like this (check out our inspiration below) but for a lot cheaper.

Our Inspiration:

We both agreed that this was the look we wanted but definitely did not want to pay the sticker price! (The one on the left retails for $355 and the fixture on the right is $180) So, we decided to make them ourselves!

Before and After:

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There’s something about velvet that instantly makes a room look and feel luxurious. Velvet is a sophisticated textile that can easily add a touch of glamour to any design. The velvet trend has been going strong since last year and it has been widely called the “it” fabric of 2018.

Below I’ve curated some great pieces (links included) that are both versatile and practical.

Roar + Rabbit™ Swivel Chair

Whether you love it or hate it, brass is back and better than ever. Roar and Rabbit combined soft velvet with a bold brass leg on this swivel chair. If you’re not quite ready to go bold with texture and color, opt for velvet furniture in a neutral color like these chairs:

Mid-Century Velvet Dining Chair

Nico Chair in Washed Velvet Grey

Crowley Hollywood Regency Brown Velvet Gold Arm Chair

Reminiscent of Old Hollywood luxury, this elegant arm chair brings vintage glamour to the modern-day home. Supported by a U-shaped frame of lustrous satin brass, the plush, wraparound-back chair is upholstered in a velveteen, deep brown for a bold visual appeal and soft plush feel.

Bold and Beautiful

Edlyn Bench

A velvet bench serves as a bright addition to a foyer or possibly even a dining room. This piece doubles as extra seating and storage! Talk about practical. I do not think boy Jamie would approve of a pink accent piece in our home…

Diamond Ottoman

Light and Airy

Show Stoppers

The presence of velvet sofas and armchairs show no sign of fading. Whether you prefer to opt for a timeless neutral fabric or like to make a statement with a bold hue, velvet sofas and armchairs instantly add elegance and flair to your home.

Derry Sofa

Velvet furniture can be easily integrated into existing decor. This bold green sofa will stand out in any living room. Details like tufted buttons give the velvet piece character and a timeless feel.

Midnight Blue Velvet Kendall Sofa

Large, comfortable and full of mid-century style, the Midnight Blue Kendall Velvet Sofa is polished and practical. This plush sofa features hand-tufted detailing, tapered solid wood legs, and sumptuous velvet-like upholstery in a deep blue hue.

Hanna Velvet Sofa

Drawing inspiration from mid-century European looks and classic contemporary silhouettes, these pieces are an ever-elusive anchor for your living room.

Velvet looks good in almost any color, but it looks best in bright jewel tones that will bring a fun edge to your space. Be sure to know your limit and not go overboard with this luxe fabric.

This past weekend was a big weekend for our little family! As you can see, Hera was very excited.

We had been keeping this secret for almost two months! Welcome to our family, Baby Bronn!

Hera now has a baby brother; A little black German Shepherd just like her!

I recently picked up this letter board from T.J. Maxx and thought it would be a cute way to introduce our little guy to everyone. I like the versatility of the letter board as it can be changed daily, monthly, or seasonally depending on your mood!

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Recently, I stumbled upon Instagram account The Front Door Project and was instantly hooked. I am absolutely amazed with the homes that are featured in the photos. I cannot believe people actually live in these houses! They are so lucky!

I am excited to say that I was able to get in touch with Deb, the founder and creator of The Front Door Project, and ask her a few questions. Check out our interview below:

I see that you started this project in 2014; Tell me more about how you thought of this idea and why you started.

While taking daily walks around her neighborhood she began photographing the front doors of historic homes. After sharing a few of her photos on social media, it became clear that her friends and followers enjoyed the content she was creating. Currently, Deb has almost 50 thousand followers on her Instagram account! Deb Cohen started The Front Door Project in 2014 to “motivate herself to get outside, exercise and pay more attention to her surroundings.” She began photographing homes with a primary focus on the front door. According to her blog, social media provided the means to share photographs and soon led to exploring other local towns in her free time. Deb Cohen lives in the historic town of West Hartford, Connecticut. In 2015 she became the vice chairman for the West Hartford Historical Commission; she works with other board members to preserve the city’s protected historical structures.

Do you have an historic town that you love to visit for The Front Door Project? What are your favorite things about that town?

There are so many wonderful historic places to visit, it’s hard to narrow it down! I think my favorite New England place would be Martha’s Vineyard, which is actually made up of a number of towns, all with great history. Edgartown and Oak Bluffs are my personal favorites. Edgartown has a long whaling history, and its narrow streets are lined with old sea captain’s homes. Oak Bluffs is an explosion of color, with Carpenter Gothic Victorian cottages and homes lining Ocean Park and the streets of the Martha’s Vineyard Campground Meeting Association. In addition to fabulous historic architecture, the island has amazing restaurants, shopping, and the most gorgeous beaches. We have made many summer memories there over the last thirteen years. Fun fact: Jaws was filmed there as well, and it’s fun to pick out scenes that we recognize from the movie.

Outside of New England, my favorite spots to visit for historic architecture (thus far!) are Charleston and New Orleans. Each city has a distinctive look and feel that make them almost instantly recognizable from pictures alone, and each place has so much to offer in terms of cuisine, music, and of course historic sites.

Charleston, SC

Have you been able to see inside of any of these amazing homes? If so, which ones?

I rarely get to see inside of private homes, although that is something I would like to do in the future. There are a number of historic homes open to the public as museums, and I happen to work at The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT, which has the most stunning architecture both inside and out! It is absolutely worth a visit if you are in the region, or if you are a lifelong lover of Mark Twain’s books.

If you could have any style home, which would it be and why?

Another tough one! I admire so many architectural styles. I think it’s easier to say what I would not live in. I wouldn’t live in new construction, or any type of contemporary home. Just not my thing! Our country is blessed with so many gorgeous homes from the past, and I would love to see them maintained and preserved for future generations. I love Colonials, Victorians, Craftsmen, Tudors – you name it!

What’s next for you and The Front Door Project?

I am excited about the book project I am working on with Union Park Press, a publisher in the Boston area. It will feature homes from all six New England states, from all four seasons. I have spent the last year traveling the region and shooting photos, and I am doing the final edits now for submission to the publisher. The book should be available by September or October, right before the holidays, so stay tuned! Once I get the book completed, I would like to get back to my blog – I miss writing!

Y’all, her book will be out around my birthday! (*Cough Cough*, Boy Jamie)

Below is a peek at some of my favorite snapshots highlighted on her Instagram account.

Portsmouth, NH

Amherst, NH

Amherst, NHWest Hartford, CT

Old Wethersfield, CT

Suffield, CT

Litchfield, CT

Woods Hole, MA

Concord, MA

I am so grateful to Deb for taking the time to answer my questions. Scrolling through her photos makes me remember all of the reasons why I loved living in the North East. If you haven’t already, go check out The Front Door Project on Instagram!

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Welcome!

Welcome to Home & Hera!

My name is Jamie and my little duckling that follows me around everywhere is my two year old German Shepherd, Hera. I love all the things: DIYs, home decor, crafts, HGTV, FRIENDS, donuts & cupcakes, and of course dogs!